Data Analyst

Company Overview

Performance Drone Works (PDW) builds technologies for the warfighter, by the warfighter. Born out of the Drone Racing League, our roots are competitive, our mindset is tactical, and our mission is clear: deliver purpose-built unmanned systems to those who serve. We are not here to sell vapor; we build and ship real capabilities for real missions.

Now, we're entering a new phase of growth and are looking for a Data Analyst to join our expanding Technical Operations department. This team is pivotal in the successful development and integration of PDW products, including program status, key metrics and providing access to critical data.
In this role, the Data Analyst will be responsible for creating, maintaining, and executing scalable and robust data pipelines. These pathways will be required to link data management systems to allow access to permanent information depending on user and role. The goal of the Data Analysis position is to provide clear, digestible data to allow for proactive decision making. Reporting mediums will be balanced between reports, KPIs metrics and visual representations. This role will be critical in identifying data trends, data bottle necks, and areas of opportunity to scale PDW and our data systems. Data integrity and security are of the utmost importance for this role and will work closely with IT and Cyber departments. This role requires an intuitive, self-motivated driver, focused on supporting the day-to-day development and operations of PDW.

What You'll Do

• Design, build, and maintain robust, scalable ETL pipelines that ingest, transform, validate, and serve data for analytics, reporting, and operational decision-making
• Translate complex datasets into intuitive visual insights that support executive decision-making and operational awareness
• Design, develop, and maintain dashboards and data visualizations that clearly communicate trends, system performance, and program health to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Partner with engineering, systems, product, and operations teams to ensure data pipelines accurately reflect system behavior and operational realities
• Identify data pipeline bottlenecks, data quality risks, and scalability constraints, driving continuous improvement and proactive mitigation efforts
• Standardize ETL patterns, data definitions, and downstream visualizations to improve consistency, scalability, and long-term maintainability
• Establish and enforce data quality standards, including validation checks, anomaly detection, monitoring, and alerting to ensure accuracy, reliability, and timelines of data products

Requirements

• 5 or more years of experience designing and maintaining ETL pipelines, analytics platforms, or data engineering systems in technically complex environments
• Strong understanding of system-level architecture, including how data flows interact with software, hardware, autonomy, and operational systems
• Demonstrated experience designing and operating scalable data pipelines, databases, and analytics platforms in technical environments
• Demonstrated experience building dashboards and data visualizations using modern BI or analytics tools to support operational and executive-level decision-making
• Proficiency in Python, VBA, and other coding languages
• Expert-level proficiency in Power BI, DAX, SQL, data modeling, performance optimization, and dashboard design
• Master's degree in Data Analytics, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance or higher, as required

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about regularly throughout the day and lift/carry up to 25 pounds. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment such as computers, printers, and phones. Must be physically capable of walking between the office and production areas and attending events or meetings off-site as needed.

Work Environment
This position operates primarily in a professional office environment with occasional work in a manufacturing setting. It requires the use of standard office equipment and systems. This role involves cross-departmental collaboration and both independent and team-based responsibilities. Standard work hours for this position are 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with occasional overtime or off-hour work as business needs arise.

Benefits

PDW values our team, and we offer a compensation package reflective of your experience and capabilities. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage; 80% sponsored by the company.
• Safe Harbor 401(K) with company match.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• On-site gym at our Huntsville, AL location.
• Employer provided life insurance.
• Robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• A work environment that encourages teamwork and innovation.
• Competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), and flexible leave options.

EEO Statement

PDW is an equal opportunity employer that upholds all federal and state non-discrimination laws. We ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation for employment for all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.